San Antionio Sewer Pipe parked up at Wellington

Last weekend, this Air Chathams-operated Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-CID, was parked up at the aero club.

It has been many years since I last flew on one of these - it was in the days of Origin Pacific from memory, although I also flew on them when operated by the now shut down Eagle Airways.

Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-CID, operated by Air Chathams

Air Chathams Metroliner at Wellington

An unusual visitor to Wellington today is this Air Chathams-operated Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-CIC, which is painted in their really-quite-awesome Whakātane livery applied.

While I say the aircraft is an unusual visitor, many of you will realise that these aircraft used to be very common at Wellington - firstly operated by Air Nelson and then as the Lifeflight Air Ambulance, amongst a host of other freight, passenger and air ambulance operators. The last time I photographed this aircraft was also in Wellington, back in April 2015 and it was a very boring plain white at the time.

I'm assuming that the aircraft is here on a charter related to the rugby match between the British & Irish Lions and the mighty, victorious All Blacks [who says I can't be a little biased??! 😃].

Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-CIC, operated by Air Chathams

Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-CIC, operated by Air Chathams

Originair now using a Metroliner

As has been reported elsewhere [like here...], Air Freight NZ has had some restrictions placed on its Air Operators Certificate which has resulted in them being unable to operate their Jetstreams on behalf of Originair. Before anyone asks, not, I do not know what has led to this, or any other information about the situation.

The response from Originair appears to have been to contract another company, Airwork Flight Operations, to conduct its flights using an Airwork Fairchild SA227-CC Metroliner instead. This aircraft has been operating for the last week or so, but this was the first day I had been able to take any [half decent] photographs.

I'm not sure of the history of this particular aircraft, although it looks as though it might have been operated by Airwork for Origin Pacific some years ago [before Origin Pacific went belly-up] as well as being available for passenger charter and freight operations at other times.

Fairchild SA227-CC, ZK-POE, operated by Airwork Flight Operations on behalf of Originair

Sounds like a sewer pipe dashing :-P

Four pictures of interest today start with a Sounds Air Cessna C208B Grand Caravan, ZK-SAW. This is the newest Grand Caravan in the Sounds Air fleet and has yet to get the Sounds Air livery applied.

Cessna C208B Grand Caravan, ZK-SAW, operated by Sounds Air

Next up is an aircraft type which is on the way out. Major changes at Air Freight NZ and Airwork will see their Convairs and Metroliners sold off [or scrapped], to be replaced with a number of Boeing 737-400's. Click here for further details from the MRC Aviation blog. These aircraft were sometimes known as the "San Antonio Sewer Pipe" in recognition of where they were built and the shape of the fuselage... :-)

In these pictures we have Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-NSS, taxying in at Wellington. This is operated as an air ambulance, although it seems its time is up shortly also.

Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK_NSS, operated by Airwork Flight Operations

Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK_NSS, operated by Airwork Flight Operations

Lastly  Air Nelson/ Air NZ Bombardier DHC8-311, ZK-NEW. It's obviously not that new now, as it has been on the register from October 2007. As mentioned in an earlier post, there are a few more of these arriving later this year in the form of competition from Jetstar/ Qantas.

Bombardier DHC8-311, ZK-NEW, operated by Air Nelson/ Air NZ

Air Chathams Metroliner

For today's first post, I have a Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-CIC, which is operated by Air Chathams.

The Metroliner has long operated in in New Zealand, originally as part of Eagle Airways [now part of the Air New Zealand Group] as a replacement for the Bandeirante, and subsequently replaced by the B1900D in the early 2000's.

I'm guessing that this aircraft will be seen on Air Chathams' Whakatane to Auckland route [along with the Convair].

Fairchild SA227-AC, ZK-CIC, operated by Air Chathams

Wellington Aero Club Open Day 2010 #3: Westpac Rescue Helicopter

The next pictures are of the Westpac Rescue Air Ambulance. The helicopter is a Kawasaki BK117-B2, ZK-HLF. Unfortunately the chopper was called away on a mission during the day, but it was certainly good to have it there while it was available!

I've also included a picture of the Lifeflight Air Ambulance Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-LFT starting up. The Metro was not part of today's event, but it does share a hanger complex with the helicopter... so close enough :-)

WAC Open Day 2009 #7: Rescue Helicopter and Air Ambulance

Two more visitors were the Westpac Rescue helicopter and Life Flight Air Ambulance.

The Westpac Rescue helicopter is a Kawasaki BK117 B-2, ZK-HLF, operated by Helilink Ltd. The Life Flight Air Ambulance is a Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, operated by Airwork Flight Operations.

Both of these aircraft are based at Wellington, and seem to be kept reasonably busy. In fact, half way through the day, the helicopter crew received an emergency call and had to extricate the helicopter and leave very quickly.

The Life Flight Trust needs community sponsorship to continue their life-saving work. They are having their own open day on Sunday 26 April - I'm sure that you visit would be most welcome, and support much appreciated!

A nice flight and some different visitors

It has been a good weekend for flying, so when my parents decided to come and visit, I was able to take them for a quick flight out from Wellington, across Cook Strait, to the Marlborough Sounds, then back again. All done in only 0.8 hrs.

For those who do not live anywhere near here, the Marlborough Sounds would have to be one of the most scenic environments you could fly through. The Sounds are [pretty much by definition I suppose] a series of inlets "constrained" by steep sides hills and islands. A fantastic scenic place to fly through! Although I did not get any pictures of my own, click here for a Google images search of photos others have taken.

In other "news", here are pictures of some visitors to the Wellington International Airport western apron today [Sunday]. Top to bottom we have:

Piper PA28R-20o Arrow II, ZK-DUY, Canterbury Aero Club

Piper PA28-161, ZK-MND, Aircraft Rentals of Rangiora

Cessna 172P, ZK-SBK, Canterbury Aero Club

Cessna 172N, ZK-EOS, Hawera Aero Club

2 x Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner, ZK-POB, Airwork Flight Operations of Auckland

The Metroliner was here on an aero-medical flight, the others appeared to be just passing through in various directions.

Lifeflight Open Day

Lifeflight [operators of a Metroliner Air Ambulance and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter] had their annual open day today. In addition to the static display of their helicopter and air ambulance, the helicopter did a number of winch displays. The Airport fire/rescue team had a fire engine and rescue boat available also.

Metroliner SA227

Earlier today, I snapped this picture of a Fairchild SA227-CC Metroliner.

Lifeflight and Qantas

Here's another 3 pictures. The first is another shot of the Lifeflight Metroliner on Wellington's Western Apron. The second is a cool mural on the wall of the Lifeflight hanger. Both of these photos were taken from the "viewing area" nearby.

The last is a reasonable picture of a Qantas B737 landing on runway 34 at Wellington.

Enjoy!

The Lifeflight display

The lovely people at Lifeflight [www.lifeflight.co.nz] provided a medical equipped Metroliner SA227 for the day. Lifeflight are the operator of the Life Flight NZ Air Ambulance Service and the Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Metroliner's [in general] has been have been variously described as "flying pencils" or a "rat with wings". Either way, I doubt you'd mind if you were in pain :-)

Anyway, here's the pictures. Unfortunately we could not get in [fair enough with all the gear in it] but I get the best inside shot I could.

A few more teaser pics...

OK, I can't resist it!

Here's a few more pictures from the open day... you'll have to wait for the rest though! As you can see from this sampler, there was wide support for this event from many of the operators either based at, or using Wellington International Airport.

Top to bottom are:

Air New Zealand B737
Lifeflight Metroliner SA227
Capital Air Piper Saratoga
Wellington Aero Club Mooney M20C
Wellington Airport Fire Engine
Vincent Aviation Beech B1900D
Helipro Jetranger II

Many more B737 pictures from the open day coming soon!

Enjoy!